Tarif records zero degrees Celsius... Weather details and dust warnings
Saudi Arabia experienced a significant drop in temperatures on Sunday, with the city of Tarif in the Northern Borders region recording the coldest temperature at 0 degrees Celsius , according to official data from the National Center for Meteorology. This drop is part of a cold wave affecting the northern regions of the Kingdom, a common occurrence at this time of year as these areas are impacted by cold air masses from the north.
List of the least hot cities in the Kingdom
The National Center for Meteorology's report indicated a variation in the minimum temperatures recorded in a number of cities and governorates of the Kingdom, as follows:
- Tarif: 0 degrees Celsius (the lowest in the Kingdom).
- Al Qurayyat: 1 degree Celsius.
- Sakaka: 3 degrees Celsius.
- Tabuk: 3 degrees Celsius.
- Arar: 4 degrees Celsius.
- Hail: 6 degrees Celsius.
- Rafha: 6 degrees Celsius.
The province of Tarif has special geographical and climatic importance, as it is known to be one of the coldest regions in the Arabian Peninsula during the winter season, due to its height above sea level and its open geographical location which makes it vulnerable to cold northern winds, which often leads to the formation of frost and temperatures dropping below zero at the peak of the winter season.
Red alert and dust storms in the Eastern Province
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Kingdom's climate map, the National Center for Meteorology issued an advanced weather alert for the Eastern Province. The center warned of active surface winds stirring up dust and sand, which could reach the level of dust storms , leading to zero or near-zero horizontal visibility.
The warnings, whose effects will continue until the early hours of Monday morning, included a number of governorates and major cities, including: Al-Ahsa, Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran, Qatif, Abqaiq, and Ras Tanura, in addition to border and desert areas such as Al-Udayd and Dha’balutan.
Weather effects and safety recommendations
The report indicated that the weather conditions in the Eastern Province would cause horizontal visibility to drop to less than one kilometer in some areas, and between one and three kilometers in others. These unstable weather conditions necessitate caution, especially for those using highways and open roads.
In such conditions, experts advise following public safety guidelines, which include:
- Avoid high speeds while driving and leave a sufficient distance between vehicles.
- Use warning lights when visibility is low.
- For patients with respiratory conditions and asthma, it is advisable to stay indoors as much as possible to avoid inhaling dust.
- People in northern regions wear heavy winter clothing to avoid catching colds caused by the sharp drop in temperatures.
